GOPAL KOCH Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Mr. N. Anix Singh, the learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. B. Bhattacharjee, the learned counsel for the State-respondents.

(2.) WITH the consent of both the counsel appearing for the rival parties, this writ petition is being heard and disposed of at the Motion stage.

(3.) THE case of the petitioner is that, he is representing the Khanapara Nava Yuvak Durga Puja Committee situated at Khanapara under Raid Marwet Syiemship area and as per customary law, the Syiem and its local Durbar is the custodian of "elaka" and there are two types of land in the Syiemship area i. e. Ri-Kynti (private land) and Ri-Raid land (People land) and the Government has no power over the said land and the Syiem of the area and its Durbar looks after the said land and they can issue certificates regarding possession of the land as per customary law of Meghalaya which was not interfered by the British at that time also.